Gamma-ray detector



()Ct. 19, 1954 FRANKUN 2,692,339

GAMMA-RAY DETECTOR Filed Aug. "23, 1948 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnvenlor W, W W

A florney Oct. 19, 1954 E. FRANKLIN 2,339

GAMMA-RAY DETECTOR Filed Aug. 23, 1948 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR ERNEST FRANKLIN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED PATENT OFFICE GAMBEA-RAY DETECTOR Application. August 23, 1948, Serial No. 45,743

Claims priority, application Great Britain September 2, 1947 22 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to gamma-ray detectors employing Geiger-Muller and like ionization devices arranged to give rise to electrical pulses in response to incident gamma rays. Such detectors are used, for example, to detect the presence of gamma-ray intensities greater than normal at points on or near the earths surface or for studying the gamma-ray activity of mineral samples or other substances or articles believed to be radio-active.

One object of the invention is to provide a gamma-ray detector, which is portable and combines convenience and reliability with small size and weight.

A further object is to provide a detector for gamma radiations having means for adjusting its sensitivity in accordance with different counting rates to provide uniformity of its statistical accuracy under different conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detector for gamma-ray detection having means for adjusting its degree of accuracy according to the requirements of different conditions of use.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention in one form comprises a Geiger- Miiller tube or like device connected to trigger a cold-cathode gaseous discharge tube (referred to hereinafter as a cold-cathode valve) arranged so that a pulse of anode current occurs when the valve is triggered, integrating means being provided which are fed with anode current pulses from the valve and which control the operation of an indicating device such as a meter.

A cold-cathode valve comprises a cathode, an anode and a trigger electrode adjacent the oathode. or the anode, and the envelope contains an inert or other gas or a mixture of gases. When a voltage is applied to break down the trigger-cathode or trigger-anode gap, anode current may flow provided the anode voltage is sufficiently high to maintain a glow discharge. After a glow discharge between anode and cathode has begun, the trigger voltage has no further influence, but the glow discharge can be ended by reducing the anode-cathode voltage below a critical value known as the maintaining voltage. De -ionization then takes place, and occupies a time (the recovery time) which depends on the extent to which ionization has been allowed to proceed; if

the anode voltage is restored during the recovery time, anode current will flow again even though the trigger-cathode or trigger-anode gap has not been broken down by an applied voltage.

The cold-cathode valve may be so connected and arranged that the flow of anode current al Q . normal.

causes the trigger-cathode or trigger-anode gap current to be quenched, whereby ionization due to triggering is limited, and the recovery time of the valve is reduced: for this purpose, the load resistance of the valve may be connected in a part of the anode-cathode circuit which is common to the trigger-cathode circuit.

The recovery time may be further reduced by providing means for limiting the trigger-cathode current; such means may take the form of a resistance in series between the source of triggering pulses and the trigger, the resistance being shunted by a condenser to pass the steep fronts of the triggering pulses.

In the application of the inventionto portable exploring means, it is convenient to provide a plurality of ionization devicessay threeeach connected to trigger its own cold-cathode valve, separate integrating means being provided for each valve, and the several integrating means being connected to operate common indicating means. The ionization devices and their associated cold-cathode valves may be arranged in a search unit mounted at the end of a rod which the operator holds in his hand, the remaining equipment being carried by the operator elsewhere on his person. Such apparatus is suitable for detecting points on or near the earths surface at which the gamma-ray intensity is above the The search unit may be provided with a cavity round which the ionization devices are grouped, mineral samples whose gamma-ray activity is to be studied being inserted into the cavity.

An exploring device such as that described in the preceding paragraph may be arranged to give a maximum indication (for example, a full scale meter deflection) under conditions corresponding to any of a plurality of different counting rates. The statistical accuracy of the device is proportional to the square root of the product of the counting rate and the time during which the pulses from the cold-cathode valves are integrated, and it is therefore proposed to vary the integrating time when the counting rate is changed, in such a manner that substantially the same statistical accuracy obtains at all counting rates. The speed of operation is thus kept as high as possible under all conditions. A switch may be provided to give a choice of two or more accuracies: one accuracy may be chosen to be suitable for search purposes, and the other for measurements.

Embodimentsof the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a circuit diagram wherein the triggering of the cold cathode valve is effected between trigger electrode and cathode, and

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram wherein tr ggering is effected between trigger electrode and anode.

Referring to Figure l a Geiger-Muller tube has its anode 2 connected through a high resistance 3 to a point at a suitable high operating potential. A condenser 4 is connected between the anode 2 and earth. The cathode 5 is connected through a resistance 6 to the trigger of a cold-cathode valve I, and resistance 6 is shunted by condenser 8.

The cathode of valve 1 is connected through a resistance 9 to the negative terminal of a battery I 0, a point in which at about (say) +75 V. is connected through resistance II to the joinder of cathode 5 and resistance 6.

The anode of valve 1 is connected through resistance l2 and variable resistance 13, and microammeter l4 in series, to the positive terminal of battery 1.0, .anda condenser is shunted across resistance 12 and the meter 14, through a switch 22.0. .;A-condenser 4.5a may be selected by switch in place of condenser l5 for the purpose of selecting a different accuracy for the equipment as hereinafterdescribed. A further condenser I6 is connected between thejoinder of resistances 1,2 and! 3 and the .cathode ofvalve I through a switch 2|. 'Here'also additional condensers 16a, 16 [6c and ltd are provided, which may be selected alternatively by means of the switch 21 to provide five different ranges of measurement as hereinafter described.

When gamma radiation passes through the -Geigerl /Iiiller tube, positive pulses are produced across resistance H, .and the pulse amplitude is such that the trigger-cathode gap in valve 1 is broken down. Resistance 6 limits the trigger current to the lowest tolerable value, and may be, say, 110 megohms; the steep leading edges of the pulses pass through condenser ii. Anode current flows assoon as suificient ions are available in the trigger-cathode space.

When the tube .1 isconditioned for current flow by the ionising effect of the "trigger pulse, condenser |16 discharges through the tube, the discharge current being limited by resistance l2. Consequently the condenservoltage falls until the anode-to-cathode voltage is less than the maintaining vvoltagewhereupon anode current ceases. thetube begins to de-ionise,- and the [condenser l6 begins to recharge through the resistance 9, The time for recharge must be sufiicient to allow deionisation in the tube to proceed far enough to prevent re-establishment of the discharge.

De-ionisation is aided in the following way. As

condenser l6 discharges through the tube and falls in voltage, the cathode potential rises and in so doing reduces not only the 'anode-to-cathode voltage but also the trigger-to-cathode voltage. Consequently the trigger-to-cathode discharge is rapidly quenched and ionisation due to this discharge is thus limited to the short time immediately following the leading edge of each input pulse. This effect is secured by the connection of resistance 9 to be common to the condenser charging-circuit and to the trigger circuit.

It will'be seen that as a result of each triggering pulse, the'condenser is discharged by the tube and recharged, a pulse of current appearing in the condenser charging circuit. These pulses are integrated in circuit l3, l4, l5 and the meter reaches means current. The integrating time is RC, where R is the-value of resistance l3 together with that of the meter, and the capacity of condenser l5.

This time constant may be varied to provide different orders of accuracy by varying the value of resistance l3 or by changing over from condenser -l 5:120 condenser lea by meansoi switch 20 these adjustments being provided alternatively or additionally to one another.

In a more elaborate arrangement of the kind described, three Geiger-Muller tubes are employed; since a larger cathode area is then available, the overall triggering rate is higher than with one tube only, and greater statistical accuracy .and/or speed of response can be obtained. Each Geiger-Muller tube is associated with a circuit as shown in the drawing, the three circuits sharing the samemeter and battery. In each circuit, a'bank of five fixed condensers corresponding to the condensers l6, [6a, I61), I and id is provided, any of which may be selected, in each circuit, by a single range switch. The several condensers in each bank have different values, which are so chosen :that any of .five .diiierent counting ratescan behad. The range. switch also varies the effective resistance andcapacityin the meter -circui-t,;so thata difierent integrating time ,isobtained .foreachcounting rate; preferably, the variation of integrating time ismade such that thesame statisticalaccuraqy holds for each .countin-g rate. If desired, an additional switch may b provided to switch into and out of the meter circuita further condenser, the arrangement being such that the'additional-switch provides achoice .oftwc accuracies.

Conveniently, the three Geiger-Muller tubes are mounted in a hand .probe ;.of suitable form, the operator carrying the battery for operating the .Geiger-Miiller tubes ina packon his .back, and having the rate and accuracyswitches, the meter and the battery for the .coldcathode valves mounted in a .small, third unit carried on the front of .a .belt. ,Apair of telephones may be provided to enable the operator to monitor the vgamma-raynoise.

Various modifications are possible in the circuitry. According to one such .modification,it has been found that, the discharge through the valve 1 when: acounting .impulseoccurs causes the tri .ger electrode to perform .an upward voltage excursion followed by a downward voltage sweep, and if the connection from the cathode of the Geiger-Muller tube through resistance II to the bias potential on battery .10 is removed this voltage excursion can be employed to quench the Geiger-Muller tube, thus enabling a non-selfquenched type of .tube to be employed. A considerable advantage is thereby obtained in view of .the smallersusceptibility to damage and ageing of Geiger-Muller tubes not provided with a quenching filling.

In Figure ,2, the circuit is operated with the cathode .22 of the .Geiser-,Miiller tube 23 earthed so thatit may form thecasingof the instrument. The outputsignal is taken from the anode 2 L The tube 23 is quenched externally, that is, it is quenched by a negative voltage swing on the anode 24 and hencea noneself-quench tube may beused. The quenching isachieved by using a cold cathode valve 25 in which the trigger electrode ,26 isarranged in proximity to the anode 21 so as to produce .a triggering discharge between the'trigger electrode 26 and the anode 21 when the tube anode 124 pulses negatively due to the normal action'of the tube. An anode voltage of 1100 volts relative to earth is employed for the valve 25 and the anode load resistance 28 (replacing the cathode load resistance .9 of Fig. .1)

is chosen so that the downward voltage swing, produced on the trigger electrode 26 by the passage of the discharge through the valve is made adequate to quench the tube 23.

The anode supply voltage is provided by a battery 29 of 350 volts having its negative terminal associated with a 750 volt supply point 30 through high resistance 3i shunted by condenser 34. The trigger electrode 26 floats about 250 volts above the potential of cathode 35 (i. e., anode trigger voltage difierence less than breakdown) The discharge in valve 25 produces a downward voltage excursion on the anode 27 down to a voltage 110 volts above cathode, and the trigger electrode is carried to approximately the same potential, that is, it is brought down by about 140 volts from the normal floating valve. This downward excursion on the trigger electrode is adequate to quench the tube 23, the anode of tube 23 being connected to the trigger electrode 2%; by way of resistance 32 shunted by condenser 33. The other components of the circuit not specifically referred to are similar to the equivalent components of Figure 1, and carry the same reference numerals.

In the arrangement of Figure 2, it is preferable to obtain the correct floating voltage on the trigger of the cold cathode valve initially by artificially inducing a discharge through the valve. This requirement may be taken care of by the initial voltage difference between the anode and trigger electrode of the valve. If necessary, the anode voltage of the valve 25 may be raised temporarily, before operations are started, to a sufiicient voltage to cause the valve to pass a discharge.

The arrangement described with reference to Figure 2 has the advantage that the speed of response is increased owing to the reduction in capacity between trigger electrode and earth.

I claim:

1. A counting-rate meter comprising a coldcathode gaseous-discharge tube having two main electrodes and a trigger electrode, a condenser and a char ing circuit therefor, a triggering circuit in series with triggering electrode and one of said main electrodes, connections for discharging said condenser through said tube by way of the main electrodes thereof and an integrating network connected in said charging circuit.

2. A counting-rate meter according to claim 1 0 having two main electrodes and a trigger elec trode, a trigger circuit coupling said counter and said tube for developing a triggering pulse between said trigger electrode and one of said main electrodes when said counter is excited, a condenser and a charging circuit therefor, connections including a current-limiting resistance for discharging said condenser through said tube by way of said main electrodes when said tube is triggered and a counting rate meter comprising an integrating network connected in said condenser charging circuit.

5. Arrangement according to claim 4 including a resistance common to said trigger circuit and said condenser charging circuit so that as said condenser discharges the effective trigger voltage is reduced to quench the trigger discharge through said tube.

6. Arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said trigger circuit comprises the shunt combination of a high resistance and a condenser connected between said trigger electrode and said gamma-radiation-sensitive counter to limit the trigger discharge current and to pass the steep leading edges of pulses resulting from excitation of said gamma-radiation-sensitive device.

7. Radiation meter comprising a self-quenched Geiger-Muller tube, a cold-cathode gaseous discharge tube having a cathode, an anode and a trigger associated with said cathode, a loop circuit including a condenser, a resistance a source of operating voltage and an integrating network, connections including a junction of said condenser said resistance and said cathode for the discharge or" said condenser through said cold-cathode tube, a resistive bias connection between said trigger and said source, and a feed connection to said trigger from the cathode of said Geiger-Muller tube.

8. Radiation meter according to claim 7 said integrating network comprising a resistance and a current-meter in series and a condenser in shunt thereto.

9. Radiation meter according to claim '7 including switch-means for changing the effective value of said condenser and the time constant of said integrating network in simultaneous steps.

10. Radiation meter according to claim '7 said feed connection comprising the shunt combination of a high resistance and a condenser to limit the trigger discharge current and to pass the steep leading edges of pulses developed by said Geiger-Muller tube.

11. Radiation meter comprising a self-quenched Geiger-Muller tube, a cold-cathode gaseous-discharge tube having a cathode, an anode and a trigger associated with said anode, a loop circuit including a condenser, a resistance, a source of operating voltage and an integrating network, connections including a junction of said condenser, said resistance and said anode for the discharge of said condenser through said coldcathode tube, a resistive bias connection between said trigger and said source, and a feed connection to said trigger from the anode of said Geiger- Miiller tube.

12. Radiation meter comprising a non-selfquenched Geiger-Muller tube having a biased electrode and an output electrode, a cold-cathode gaseous-discharge tube having two main electrodes and a trigger electrode, said trigger electrode and said output electrode being connected solely together, a condenser and a charging circuit therefor, connections including a currentlimiting resistance for discharging said condenser through said cold-cathode tube by way of said main electrodes, and a counting rate meter comprising an integrating network connected in said condenser-charging circuit.

13. Radiation meter comprising a non-selfquenched Geiger-Muller tube having a positively biased electrode and a floating electrode, a coldcathode gaseous-discharge tube having a cathode, an anode and a trigger associated with said cathode, a connection between said trigger and said floating electrode, a loop circuit including a condenser, a resistance, a voltage source and an integrating network, and. connections including a junction of said condenser, said resistance and said cathode for the discharge of said condenser through said cold cathode tube.

154. Radiation meter comprising a ,non selfquenched Geiger-Muller tube having a negatively 'biasedelectrode and a floating electrode, a cold- -cathode gaseousedischargeietu be having a cathode,

anzanode and a trigger associated with said anode, a connection between. said trigger and said fioat- .ing electrode, .al loop rcircuit'includ'ingra condenser,

*a-resistance, :a voltage somceandan integrating network, and:connections induding adjunction of said condenser, said resistance and :said anode for-"the discharge of :said condenser through said coldrcathodentube.

i5. Adeviceifor detecting penetrating'radiation comprising rneans to :convert the radiation into electrical impulses, a gaseous discharge device :having input :and output means, "energizing :m'ems connected tto said gaseous discharge device, coupling ,means connecting said radiation converting means to said input means, means to energize :said radiation converting means pthroughisald gaseous discharge device, and means pling means connecting one electrode of said radiation converting means to said input'means, means to apply a potential between the electrodes oiz-said radiation converting means through-said gaseous discharge device and including said coupling means and said input means, and means connected to said output meansland operable to indicate the radiation upon the occurrence of an electrical impulse in said radiation converting means which impulse isautomatically impressed on said gaseous discharge device by said coupling means and saidlinput means.

1'7. A device for detectingpenetrating radiation comp-rising means to convert the radiation to .electrical impulses including apair ofelectrodes Within. a container and an ionizable medium 'therebetween, a gaseous discharge device having a control electrode, energizing 'means for said gaseous dischargedevice comprising-a source of potential and deionizing means in series with said source and said gaseous discharge device, cou-- pling means connecting one electrode of said radiation converting means to the control electrode of said gaseousdischarge-device, means to energize said radiation converting means through saidgaseous discharge device including saidcoupling means, and means connected to saidgaseous discharge device and operable to indicate the radiation upon the occurrence of an electrical impulse in said radiation converting means which impulse is automatically impressed on the control electrode of said gaseous discharge device by said coupling means.

18. A device for detecting penetrating radiation comprising means to convert the radiation to electrical impulses, a cold gaseous discharge tube, input means and output means for said cold gaseous discharge tube, energizing means connected to said cold gaseous discharge tube, coupling means connecting said radiation converting means to said input means, means to energize said radiation u'converting .means through said. :"cold gaseous discharge tube andincludingwsaid-input means and said coupling means, and means connected to said outputfmeans and operable .to'in- -dicate the radiation upon the-occurrence of an electrical impulse in said radiation converting means which :impulse is automatically impressed on said cold gaseous discharge tube by said coupling means and-said input means.

:19. A "device for detecting --penetrating radiation comprising means to convertthe-radiation-to electrical impulses, a cold gaseous discharge tube having a control electrode, coupling .means .connect-ing said radiation converting means to the controlele'ctrode of said cold "gaseous discharge tube, energizing means connected to said :cold gaseous discharge tube, means to energize :said radiation converting means through said cold gaseous discharge tube including "said coupling "means-and sa-idcontrol electrode, and means connected tosaid cold gaseous discharge tube and operable to indicate thefradiation'upon the occurrence of an electrical impulse in 'said radiation converting means Whichimpulse is automatically impressed on said cold gaseous discharge .tube by said coupling means and said control electrode.

"20. A device for detecting penetrating radiationcomprising means to convert .the radiation into electrical impulses,-a cold gaseous discharge tube having a cathode electrode, :a control electrode and :a collector-electrode r-energizingrmeans for applying an ionizing potential tothecollector electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube, coupling meansconnecting said radiation converti-ngmeans to the control electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube, means to energize said radiation converting means through said cold gaseous discharge device including the --cathode and control electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube and said coupling means,and means connected to the collector electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube and operable to "indicate the radiation upon the occurrence .of an electrical impulse in said radiation converting means which impulse is automatically impressed on said cold-gaseous discharge tube by its control electrode and said coupling means.

21. A device for detecting penetrating radiation comprising means to convert the radiation to electrical impulses including a pair of electrodes Within a container and an ionizable medium therebetween, a cold gaseous discharge tube having cathode, control and collector electrodes; on- .ergizing means for applying an ionizingpoltentialto the collector electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube, coupling means connecting one of the electrodes of said radiation converting means to the control electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube, means for applying a potential between the electrodesof said radiationconverting means through said cold gaseous dis- .charge tube including the cathode and control electrodes thereof, and means connected to the collector electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube and operable to indicate the radiation upon the occurrence of an electrical impulse in said radiation converting means which impulse is automatically impressed on said cold'gaseouszdischarge'tubeby its control electrode and saidcoupling means.

22. A device for detecting penetrating v:radiation comprising means to convert the radiation into electrical impulses including 'a pair of electrodes within a container and .an ionizable medium therebetween, 'aicold' gaseous discharge tube having cathode, control and collector electrodes; energizing means for applying an ionizing potential to the collector electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube comprising a source of potential to ionize said cold gaseous discharge tube and including deionizing means connected in the said source of potential and said cold gaseous discharge tube, coupling means connecting said radiation converting means to the control electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube, means for applying a potential between the electrodes of said radiation converting means through said cold gaseous discharge tube including the cathode and control electrodes thereof, and means connected to the collector electrode of said cold gaseous discharge tube and operable to indicate the radiation upon the occurrence of an electrical impulse in said radiation converting means which impulse is automatically impressed on said cold gaseous discharge tube by its control electrode and said coupling means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,122,222 Vingerhoets June 28, 1938 2,428,149 Falk Sept. 30, 1947 2,549,058 Constable Apr. 17, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES 

